Tigers vs. Rays Odds
| Tigers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
+180 | 7.5 -105 / -115 | +1.5 -126 |
| Rays Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
| -215 | 7.5 -105 / -115 | -1.5 +105 |
The AL East's Tampa Bay Rays host the AL Central's Detroit Tigers to kick off Sunday's MLB slate.
Tampa Bay has dominated each of the first two games and has outscored Detroit 16-2.
Here's a look at the odds, as well as my Tigers vs. Rays betting pick.
Detroit Tigers
It looks like it will be yet another long season for the Detroit Tigers, who have registered just two runs on 12 hits through the first two games of this series. This lineup has struck out 16 times over those two outings, a troubling start that is likely to continue Sunday against left-hander Jeffrey Springs.
In 2022, the Tigers ranked 27th in the league in K%. Looking at Sunday's projected starting lineup, the punch-out is likely to be an issue once again as six of the nine hitters possessed a K% north of 23% last season.
Through the first two games of this season, Detroit possesses a 22.2 K% against southpaws. There is no way of sugar coating the fact that, top-to-bottom, the Tigers possess one of the worst lineups in baseball.
Tampa Bay Rays
After spending his first four seasons in MLB as a reliever, Tampa transitioned Springs to a starting role, a move that has completely revitalized his career.
Last season, Springs went 9-5 with a 2.46 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP while amassing 144 strikeouts over 135 innings. Springs does a terrific job of utilizing his fastball to set up a nasty changeup and posted a 38.1% whiff rate last year.
At FanDuel, you can find Springs over 6.5 strikeouts at -116, which is the play to make in this contest. In 2022, he ranked in the 71st percentile or higher in K%, Whiff%, and Chase Rate, the last of which he ranked in the 96th percentile.
Typically tremendous in the strikeout department, Springs has finished with a strikeout rate of 26% or higher in each of the past three seasons.
Tigers vs. Rays Betting Pick
Detroit's struggles in the strikeout department are likely to continue against Springs. While it is a small sample size, the Tigers' roster possesses a disastrous 35.3% strikeout rate across 17 career plate appearances against the left-hander.
In his lone start against the Tigers last season, Springs allowed just four hits while surrendering zero earned runs across six innings. Seven strikeouts is certainly no small number, but Springs' changeup should destroy a Tigers' lineup that features six guys who possessed a strikeout rate north of 23% last year.
I don't think this line will move to seven, but if it does, I would not take the over at that number.
